Grounding connecter



Feb. 23, 19322. B. 1. YANcHENKo A1,847,058

GRONDING CONNECTER Filed July 12, 1928 INVENToR ATTORNEYS Fat'ented Feb. v23, 1932 :BAsIL J. YANcHENxo, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR 'ro THE ELIZABETH, yNRW JERSEY, A ooRPoRATIoN or THOMA BETTS CO., OF NEW JERSEY A GROUNDING CONNECTER 'l .Application mea my 12,

This invention relates to'electrical connecting means and more particularly to a grounding connecter to be used with wiringinstallations in buildings and the like, in order to ground the conduitwiring system and thereby reduce or eliminate lire hazards which may well result from arcing in the system.

' An object of the invention is to produce a grounding connecter which is'to be used with outlet boxes and conduit or cable installations to establish a positive electrical connection or bond between the outlet box and the conduit and also to produce a tight anchorage of the pipe within the-,knock-out hole of the box so that danger of any loosening of the pipe in the hole is eliminated.

A further object is to produce a ground connecter between .the outlet box and the conduit or cable which can be installed either before or after the wires in the box are con-i nected. For this reason the grounding device is so :constructed that it may be inserted into position without removing the lock nut anchoring means which fastens the conduit in the box and also without disconnecting any of the wires which run through the pipe and which may have been connected. For this reason the groundingdevice can be used in old wiring systems to reestablish an electrical ground connection between the pipeand box 1n case such connection has become defective or insuficient and thereby insuring a properly grounded system without the inconvenience of disconnecting any wires and therefore permitting the installation of the connector 1n a minimum amount of time.

The accompanying drawings illustratek an example of the invention which show the principle involved and wherein:

Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 show respectively a front view, a sectional view of Figure 1 on the line 2 2, a side view .and a sectional view -on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 of my split ring grounding connecter.

Fi re 5 shows a box assembly view in longitu inal section with the grounding connecter tightened intoV nal position between the'box wall and pipe-anchora e lock nut.

and a conduit "and-,lock nut with the connec- Figure 6 lshows the groun ing connecterY 1928. Serial No.' 282,205.

ter parts in spaced relation to show the manner in which the device is assembled; and Figure 7 is a side view of Figure 6 partly in section.

In house and building electrical wiring work, an outlet box VB with conduit or cable knock-.out openings H is ordinarily used into which thewires are frequently led through a conduit or pipe P. The pipe P is secured inthe customary opening H of the box by any suitable anchorage means as for example by a lock nut 16 and bushing nut 15. Agin and deterioration of parts -as by rust an corrosion often causes looseness of the pipe in the box. Therefore a good, electrical ground vconnection no longer exists between the pipe and box and hence sparks or even an electrical arc may result at the box assembly. My grounding connecter installed in a new box assembly prevents the development of looseness because extraordinary tightness is secured in the first or original assembly and when used in an old box assembly it removes looseness and reconditions the old work.

' In my invention I provide a wedge shaped means which is forcibly inserted between the bushing 15 and the box wallB and thereby removes any looseness which may existbetween the pipe lock nuts 15 and 16 and box wall B. Where lock nuts 15 and 16 alone are relied upon to secure a tight anchorage of the pipe P in a box B, it is more-or less difficult for the workmen on the job to suliciently tighten the pipe nuts sothat all lost motion between. these parts and the box may be positively taken up and a tightconnection established. The diliiculty is due primarily to the fact that the sp ace within which the Workmen must work with his tools in tightening up the conduit lock nuts is limited and also there is much probability that the box would bel broken from its support on the lath 4or wall of the building if it is subjected to `excessive nut tightening. With my invention these various difficulties and objections are removed and a tight and secure connection is made which furthermore establishes a good electrical bond and ground connection between the pipe P and box B.

One example of my invention is shown and y described herein but it is understood that the device may be varied in form without departing from the invention. The grounding connecter consists essentially of a split ring 3 and 4, 5 and slides against the wall of the outlet box B and the other face 14 is conical or at an angle to the axis of the ring 1-2 thereby producing a wedge-'shaped formation on each segmental ring section. This conic face is adapted to engage the nut 15 of theconnection as the two halves of the ring are drawn together by means of any suitable operating means such as the screws 9 and 10. One or both parts 1 and 2 may be made in segmental form.

The grounding connecter is installed andl functions in a, manner now to be described. If the connecter is to be used on old wiring installations it may be necessary to loosen the nut 15 somewhat in order to enable the narrow inner edge of the ring to be freely inserted between the nut and the box wall. `The two sections of the ring are) then placed around the conduit pipe P so that the flat `face of the sections are against the box wall.

The screws 9 and 10 are then inserted through the free holes 7 and 8 provided therefor in one ofthe sections and screwed into the s threaded holes 11 and 12in the` other section.

Y tight'connection and establishing electrical -o any of the wire connections exceptin The screws 9 and 10 or other 'operating means are then tightened which draws thetwo sections 1 and 2 together until the conic4 or wedging faces 14` engages the face of.l` the nut 15. Continued tightening of the screws will wedge the sections between the box and face of thevnut 15, thereby securing a rigid and' a positive^ ground of connection etween the box and pipe anchorage nuts.

It is apparent from the manner in which my device is used and the manner in which it I is inserted` that it is veryfwell adapted for both old wiring work, in'which the wires are electrically connected, without disturbing loosening of the conduit nut sufficiently to receive the inneredge of the ring 1 2. The

device is equally well adaptedfor new housework wiring installations in'which case the wire connections may be entirely completed or not whicheverfis most convenient. If the wire connections have not been inade the connecter may be ,loosely assembled and placed over the pipe and against the box wall and the lock nut then-screwed on or it may be inA` serted between the box wall and lock nut in the manner above described. It is immaterial as far as 'the eifectiveness of the connecter is concerned whether it is old or new wiring installations with which my de-v vice is to be used and if the installation is new it is immaterial whether the wiring-connctions have been completed or not. In other words the grounding connecter is ada ted to suit any condition confronting a wor an on a wiring job, old or new.

Althou h one example of the structure illustrates t e principles involved in myinvention it is to be understood that the construction may be'varied without de arting from the invention. For example, t sections 1 and 2 may be provided with one or two screw-carrying lugs and the lugs may or may not form part of the wedging means. The grounding connecter mayl also be constructed so that a single screw will force the two sections '1 and 2 together. One orboth sections 1 and 2 may be segmentally sha ed, and the wedging face 14 may be forme on either or both of the ring sections. A pore segmental aol tion or the entire surface 14'may be wedge shaped.

It will be observed from the above description of the manner in which my groundin connecter is operated that the wedge-shape segments, as they are drawn together by the operating means, will produce a scraping action between the liat faces 13 of the sectional ring 1-2 and rbox wall and also between the conic face 14 and the nut 15. This scraping action insures a positive and tight clamping action aswell as a positive and effective electrical connection and ground because it tends to scrape away any dirt whichl frequently parts. This results in a perfect electrical bond between the conduit P and the box B. The connecteris moreover easily ap lied and requires tightenin lof the screws on y, rather than tightening o the. conduit nut located in a space which is inadequate-to secure a'proper tightening thereof. y f It is apparent that both segmental wedge parts 1 and 2 exert a longitudinal force on t e pipe P tending to pull the ipe into the box B thereby jamming the loc nut 16 against the outside surface of the box. The pull on the pipe is straight and hence it is an advanadhere between the tage to maker/both of segmental members 1I thefun- -and 2 wedge shaped so .that the force on the pipe is a straightl one.

Itis advisable to tighten the bushing nut 15 by hand f until the nut 15 engages the wedgefaced segmental connecter which is in open position asin Figure 1." `There-l after' the operating screws yare tightened which draws the two wedge membersl 1 and 2 towardeach other and in between the box wall and nut 15 to effect -a positive electrical ground betwen all parts as -well as a insulating materials and` the: box

`ecuila physical joinder of the conduit P to the The pipe nuts 15 and 16 may simply be termed lock nuts, and constitute screw-operated anchorage means to secure the pipe P in the box. Likewise the screws 9 and 10 constitute screw-operating means to draw together the wedging segments. Itl is,clear therefore that the two screw-operating means cooperated with each other to effect an electrical ground connection and physically tight and rigid ipe and box connectlon.

One or both of the segmental grounding parts, say the member 1, includes an inter nal" arched orring-like seat to fit upon or around the pipe P. The other member 2 is oppositely disposed so that, upon turning the screws, the first named member is drawn toward the pipe and toward the latter named member with the result that a wedging action of equal force on both sides of the pipe is introduced between the pipe nut anchorage means 15 and the box wall B.

The connecter device is `unusually easy to mount in position because the half section or portion 2 can first be placed in position on the` pipe behind the nut 15 through the top and open end of the box and then rotated half way around to the bottom portion of the box to make room for the other`half-ring part 1, whereu on the screws 9 and 10 are insertedl and tig tened up.

What I claim is:

1. A grounding connecter and conduit tightened for a conduit and outlet box` as- Sembly having screw operated anchorage means to fasten the conduit .in the box comprising, a pair of members disposed between wall and one ofthe screw anchorage means and on opposite sides of the conduit, operating means to enforce movement ofthe members transversely of the conduit and towards each other, and means on each of said members to frictionally bear against .the box wall and anchorage means with increasing pressure as the movement of the members continue. l

2. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit and outlet box assemhly having screw operated: anchorage means to fasten the conduit in the box comprising, a pair of members disposed between the box wall and one of the screw anchorage means and on opposite sides of the conduit, operative means to enforce movement ofN the members transversely of the conduit and towards each other, and a wedge upon one of said pair of members to frictionally bear against the box wall and anchorage means w1th increasing pressure as the movement of the members continue.

3. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit andoutlet box assembly having screw operated anchorage means to fasten the conduit in the box comprising,-

ythem together,

al pair of wedges disposed between the box ywall and one of the screw anchorage means and upon opposite sides of the conduit and operatmg means to draw the wedges together transversely of the conduit and towards each other to frictionally bear against the box wall and the anchorage means.

4. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit and outlet box assembly having screwoperated anchorage means to fastenthe conduit in the box comprising, a ring formed of two semi-circular sections to be disposed on opposite lsides of the conduit and between an anchorage means and the box wall, operating means to retain the sectionsin assembled relation and draw them together, and means upon said sections to frictionally bear against the box wall and the anchorage means with increasing pressure as the movement of the sections continue.

5. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit and outlet box assembly having screw operated anchorage means to fasten the conduit in the box comprising, a .ring formed of two semi-circular sections to be disposed upon opposite sides of the conduit and between the anchorage means and the box wall, operating means to retain the sections in assembled relation and draw and wedges upon said sections to frictionally bear against the box wall andthe anchorage means with increas-` ing pressure as the movement of the sections continue 6. A grounding connecter and .conduit tightener for a conduit and outlet box assembly having screw operated anchorage means to fasten the conduit in the box comprising, a ring formed of two semi-circular sections to be disposed upon opposite sides of the-conf duit and between the anchorage means and the box wall, a conic surface on one face of said ring, operating means to retain the sections in assembled relation and draw them together to frictionally bear the sections against the box wall and the anchorage means with increasing pressure as the movement of the sections continue.

p 7. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit and outletbox assem bly havingscrew op p to fasten the condult in the box comprisin a ring formed of two semi-circular sections to be dis osed upon opposite sides of tlie conduit an between t anchorage means and the box wall, a conic'surface' on one face of said ring, a pair of screws passing loosely through the ends of one section and threaded erated anchorage means 8. A grounding connecter and conduit tightenerffor a conduit arid outlet box assembly having screw operated anchorage means to fasten the conduit in the box comprising,

5 a pair of members disposed between the box lwall and one of the screw anchorage means, operating means to enforce movement of the members transversely of the conduit and toe wards each other, and means on one of said v members to frictionally bear against the box wall and anchorage means with increasing pressure as the movement of the members continue.

9. A grounding connecter and conduit tightener for a conduit and outlet box assembly having conduit anchorage means comprising a se mental member having a ringlike seat to ht a pipe and including wedging means to .be forceably inserted between the box wall and the pipe anchorage means, an-

l other member adapted to be disposed oppositely the segmental member and on the otherside of the pipe, and screw means cooperating with the two members to move the segmental member and wedging means toward the pipe.

10. A grounding connecter comprising two cooperating members, bothof which are provided with an internal ring-like pipe seat adapted to embracea pipe, and both of which have a iiat face 4to engage a box wall, and both of which have a wedge-shaped face to engage a pipe anchorage means to apply force thereto; and screw means engaging the ends of thefmembers to draw them together vto force the wedge-shaped faces to slide agamst the pipe anchorage means. In testimong whereof I aix-m signature. Y p ASIL J. YANG ENKO. 

